In the summer of 1910, the small African American community of Slocum, Texas became the scene of one of the deadliest race riots in American history. The violence began after an altercation involving a local white man and a black resident escalated into widespread panic and retribution. Over the course of two days, a mob, consisting largely of local white residents, took to the streets with guns and torches, systematically targeting black homes, businesses, and individuals. It is estimated that anywhere between 100 to 300 African Americans were murdered, although official records tend to downplay the numbers.

The massacre was characterized by extreme brutality, with reports of lynchings and desperate fleeing by many in the black community. The white mob's actions were met with little to no intervention from law enforcement, further emboldening the attackers. As news of the violence spread, local and national responses ranged from indifference to outrage, but no serious legal repercussions followed for those involved in the killings. This horrendous incident not only devastated the Slocum community but also cast a long shadow over race relations in Texas and across the country.

In the aftermath, the event was largely ignored by mainstream media at the time, which contributed to a culture of silence surrounding racial violence. Many survivors fled the area, creating a significant impact on the demographics of Slocum and making it difficult for the community to recover. The massacre underscored the racial tensions simmering beneath the surface in many parts of the United States and raised awareness about the extreme violence faced by African Americans in the South.